Magnetic window washing apparatus



Sept. 10, 1957 E. N. HOGENSEN MAGNETIC WINDOW WASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 29, 1952 2,805,438 MAGNETIC WINDOW WASHING APPARATUS Emory N. Hogensen, Chicago, iii. Appiication February 29, 1952, Serial No. 274,13?

6 Claims. (Cl. 15220) This invention relates to a window washing apparatus and has particular reference to means for manipulating a pair of window washing pads held on opposite surfaces of a glass window by magnetic force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide window washing pads of the type referred to with thin resilient lip portions that are biased towards the surface of the window being washed and are adapted to fit between the window being washed and the overlapping portion of the adjacent window sash when the windows are moved relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide the window washing pads with cord means for moving them simultaneously without any danger of having the outer pad fall because of the accidental destruction of the magnetic cooperation between the pads.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the cord with readily releasable attaching means by which it may be quickly and easily secured to either end of the pads so that the resilient lips may be faced in the proper direction regardless of whether the top or bottom window is being washed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle removably engageable with the top edge of either window sash to facilitate manipulation of the cord by means of which the window washing pads may be moved over the surfaces of the window.

Other objects of the invention and various advantages of the window washing apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred illustrative embodiment, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a window with the window washing apparatus embodying the present invention in operative position for the lower window to be washed;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of a pair of window washing pads and their holders;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing a pair of window washing pads on opposite surfaces of a window;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the handle showing the cord arrangement for manipulating the window washing pads;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the window washing apparatus in operative position for the lower window to be washed; and

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, showing the window washing apparatus in position for the upper window to be washed.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a conventional window frame having an upper window 3 and a lower window 4 mounted for vertical sliding movement in the frame. When the window is closed the upper edge 5 of the lower window sash and the lower edge 6 of the upper sash are aligned in the same horizontal plane. When either window is moved relative to the other, the space between each window glass and the adjacent surface of the edge 5 or 6 of the other windowis rather limited, as indicated at 7, Figure 6.

ed States Patent ice Each pad holder comprises an outer casing 8, an inner casing 9, and a permanent magnet 10. The outer casing consists of a bottom wall 11 and side walls 12 extending at right angles thereto. Although the outer casing is shown as being rectangular, it is obvious that it may be made in any desired shape. The outer casing may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferred to use a suitable plastic. Loops 13 are rigidly secured to two oppositely disposed side walls 12 which become the top and bottom walls of the holder when it is positioned against a window to be washed.

The inner casing 9 is preferably made of the same material as the outer casing 8, and is provided with side walls 14 of slightly less height than the side walls 12. The bottom wall 15 is secured to the inner surface of bottom wall 11 in any suitable manner. A partition wall 14' extends between the side walls 12 and 14 in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 11 and flush with the upper edge of side wall id. The side walls 12 extend slightly beyond the outer surface of partition wall 14, to form a peripheral flange 12. extending around the open side of casing 3. The magnet ii), which is prefereably of U- shape, is embedded in any suitable material 16 capable of holding the magnet with its legs 17 projecting beyond the surface of the holding material which is flush with the side walls 14. The magnet could also be held in place by a wire loop extending around the magnet and through the bottom walls 15 and 11 of the inner and outer casings. The ends of such a wire loop could be secured in any desired manner.

The outer casing 8 is provided with a cover 18 which fits snugly against partition wall 14 and is held within peripheral flange 12 by frictional engagement with said flange to serve as a closure for the open side of the outer casing. The cover 15 has a pair of apertures 19 through which the legs 17 of the magnet extend. The cover 18 comprises part of the window washing pad which also includes a thin resilient metal plate 26 secured to the outer surface of cover 18 and having a lip 21 projecting beyond one edge of the cover. The lip portion 21 is curved outwardly relative to the casing 8 to urge it into close contact with the surface of the window to be cleaned. A piece of sheepskin 22 is adhered to the outer surface of the plate 26 to complete the structure of the pad and to provide a soft durable surface for contacting the surface of the window to be washed. The sheepskin 22 is provided with apertures 23 and the plate 26 is provided with apertures 24, both aligned with apertures 19, to permit legs 17 of the magnet to project therethrough. The exposed ends of legs 17 of the magnet are preferably flush with the outer surface of sheepskin 22 so that the magnet will not interfere with the engagement of the exposed outer surface of sheepskin 22 with the surface of the window to be cleaned.

The handle 25 for facilitating the manipulation of the cord 25 comprises a shank 27 to which one end of a channel shaped member 28 is secured. A roller 29 is transversely mounted in channel 28 adjacent its forward end, and another roller 3% is transversely mounted in the channel just forward of shank 27. An apertured flange 31 is secured within channel 27 rearwardly of roller 29 to guide the cord 26 from roller 2% to roller 3%. The rear portion of the bottom wall 32 of channel 28 is bent downwardly at right angles toform a flange 33. A strip 34 of felt or similar material is adhered to the exposed surface of bottom wall 32 and fiange 33 so that handle can be positioned on a window sash without scratching it or marring it in any manner. The flange 33 serves as a back gage to hold the handle against the window sash and also provides an open bottom under roller 3% in channel 2 8 through which cord 26 extends.

The cord 26 has a looped portion 35 of which one end each of said casings, each of said pads having a lip extending vertically beyond one edge of its casing, each of said lips being thin enough to pass between a window and the sash of the adjacent window, a loop secured to opposite edges of each of said casings, a handle adapted to be held against the upper sash of the window to be washed, a pair of rollers mounted in said handle, a cord extending over said rollers and having its end portions extending on opposite sides of the window to be washed, and a clamp on each end portion of said cord releasably engageable with either of said loops whereby said casings may be secured to said cord with said lips extending towards the closest sash of the adjacent window, said icord being operable to move both of said casings and pads while they are retained on opposite surfaces of the window by said magnets.

6. In a window washing apparatus, a casing having one open side, a U-shaped magnet rigidly secured within said casing with its legs projecting through said open side,

and a pad, said pad including a cover fitting said casing and serving as a closure for said open side, a thin metal plate secured to the outer surface of said cover and having a lip extending beyond one edge thereof, and a layer of soft material secured to the outer surface of said thin metal plate, said cover, metal plate and soft layer each being apertured to permit the legs of said magnet to projeet therethrough, the outer ends of said legs being substantially flush with the outer surface of said layer of soft material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,100 Di Giovanni Dec. 9, 1913 1,061,112 Parke May 6, 1913 1,357,869 Howard Nov. 2, 1920 1,603,175 Weisz Oct. 12, 1926 1,667,464 Wagner Apr. 24, 1928 1,758,723 Thatcher May 13, 1930 1,835,440 Starke Dec. 8, 1931 2,291,435 Anderson et a1. July 28, 1942 2,387,926 Miller Oct. 30, 1945 2,507,559 DAndrea May 16, 1950 

